Michael O'Connell update: guard downgraded to questionable vs Purdue with hamstring injury

Michael O’Connell was out in transition, seemingly on his way to the basket in the first half of the Final Four against Purdue. Around the three-point line, he slipped and once on the ground, immediately grabbed for his left hamstring. While O’Connell was able to get back into the game, there was clearly some pain for the NC State player.

However, after being reevaluated at halftime, O’Connell’s status has been downgraded. He is now questionable and Keatts will put him on the court if necessary. For now, NC State will have to continue against Purdue without a key contributor.

“An update on Michael O’Connell,” CBS’ Tracy Wolfson said before the second half. “He has been downgraded to questionable with that left hamstring. Keatts telling me ‘He could be used sparingly’ but right now, he’s out.”

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If O’Connell cannot get back into the game, it would be a huge blow for the Wolfpack. In what already seems to be a tired team, losing a body could hurt over the next 20 minutes.

Michael O’Connell leaves Final Four game with hamstring injury

An early injury has struck NC State during a Final Four matchup with Purdue on Saturday evening, as guard Michael O’Connell left the game with an apparent lower-body injury less than 10 minutes into the game. O’Connell appeared to hurt himself tripping on a fast break.

After checking out of the game, O’Connell was quickly taken back to the tunnel or locker room for further treatment, per the TBS broadcast. As he left the floor, O’Connell was walking gingerly and was favoring his left leg and hamstring after his tumble.

He returned to the action after missing several minutes but quickly checked back out again, appearing incapable of moving comfortably enough to be as effective as needed.

Replays showed that O’Connell tripped up of his own accord and he appeared to twist an ankle along with tweaking his hamstring.

After several minutes in the locker room, the TBS broadcast added that O’Connell had come back to the bench. Sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson added that O’Connell had gone into a black tent and gotten some massaging and stretching from trainers before returning to the floor.

Once he checked out after testing the leg, O’Connell was taken from the bench for more treatment, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

On3’s Andrew Graham contributed to this article